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R. E. CARMICHAEL.

PIPE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1919.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919 2 SHEETS-SHEET R. E. CARIVIICHAEL. 7

PIPE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.-2B, I919.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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A UNITED STATES PATENT ornion.

EoEEEr E. cAnmIcHAEn, 0E DAMON, TEXAS, essrenon or manner-E re enonen Benn-AN, or HOUSTON, TEXAS.

PIPECU'ITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. a, rare.

Application filed April 2a, 1919. Serial No. 293,299.

To all 'wkorn it may concern: Be it known that I, ROBERT E.

MICHAEL, a citizen of-the United States, re-

siding'at Damon, Brazoria county, Texas,

to withdraw the same from the hole. If the.

Y pipe has been set for some time it is usually found that the same has become frozen or cemented to the walls of the bore hole, so

that it may not be rotated for'unscrewing at the joints. It" is then necessary to use a pipe cutter which may. be introduced into the hole and employed to cut the said pipe this character and means thereon to indicate to the operator when the pipe has been completely severed. .0 her objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description which fol;

lows and willbe morev particularly set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forminga part of this specification, and wherein like nu merals refer to like parts throughout the different views, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a pipe with my invention placed thereon; Fig. 2 is a similar view 45 showing the plunger of my inyention in elevation and the cutter actuating a different position 'from that i plece of pipe with my invention therein. cer; tain parts being broken awayto show a still different position of the cutting means; Fig. t isatransverse sectlon on thelplane 4.4

of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a broken view showing the cutters from outsideof the housing.

In the drawings, my invention is shown as until the desired length of means in I sclosed in. Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section of a Y inserted within an outer pipe 1 in position for cutting the'pipe. The device by which an outer tubular pipe 2, made up of two sect1ons of unequal length, fitting together on a plane spaced above the lower end indi-' cated at 3. These two sections are held j the cutting is performed is housed within together to inclose the operative parts by means of bolts or rods 4, which fit in longi tudinal registerin holes in said sections, and are secured rigidly in place by means of nuts 5 at the outer ends of said bolts. The upper end of the housing 2 is threaded interiorly at 6 for attachment to a drill stem 7. I

The cutters 8, by which the pipe is severed, are disk-shaped, and mounted .within radially slidable blocks I 9. -These blocks are normally seated within the outlines of the housing but are adapted to be forced outwardly so that the cutters will project'through openings in the side of the housin to contact with the casing to be severe These openings are of suflicient dimensions vertically to allow a limited vertical' movement of the cutters for a purpose which will later appear. The blocks 9 are three innumberin the embodiment shown in the drawings, but it is obviousthat there may be more or less than three, and I do not wish to be confined to this particular numberof. cutters.- Theblocks are inclined 1nwardly slightly" on' their inner faces, so that when withdrawn within the housing, as shown in Fig. 4, they will fit closely to-' gether. The outer faces of the sllding blocks 9 are rounded to conform to the outer curvedface of the housing. The vertical sides of the blocks 9, ,when advanced, fit closely against the sides of the o enings 10 m the housing. The cutting dis s 8 aremounted blocks and are rotatable upon pins 11. 1

When the housin containing the cutters is rotated for' per orining the cuttlng action upon the outer caslng or p1pe, the joints of the drill stem 7 w1l l sometimes tighten or screw together somewhat, so that. there will be a tendency to shorten the dr1ll stem, If the cutters are in cutting contact with the outer casing at the moment the pipe begins to shorten, due to thls threading up of t e pipe joints, the cutters ma eas ly be caught in the outer plpe and loro en off.

springs 13 and 16; These springs are con-j I or supporting To accommodate a certain amount of play vertically, due to the shortening ofthe drill stem on whichthe cutter is mounted, I have seated the cutting blocks 9 resiliently in the housing. The blocks rest on their lower faces upon a tubular sliding support 12 which is in turn supported upon a helical spring 13, this spring being seated'at its lower endu on an inwardly projecting flange 14 on the lower end ofthe housing 2. Spaced above the openings 10, in the sides of the housing, I have fixed a second flange ring15. This flange projects inwardly from the side of the housin and may be integralwith the housingitse f, or may be threaded in place as indicated in the drawing. The said flange 15 limits the upward movement of a secondhelical spring 16 which bears at its lower end against a washer'17, which is adapted to be moved up and down within the housing and in normal position bears upon the upper faces of the sliding blocks '9.

It willthus be noted that the sliding blocks are held resiliently between the two structed in practice of strong material, and will, under ordinary circumstances, main tain theblocks 9 at the vertical center of the openings 10. v v

The blocks 9 are adapted to be moved positively forward'and backward when such movement is required. In order to perform this operation the cutter blocks 9 are beveled on their inner faces for contact with a conical spear or wedge 18. This spear forms an integral part of a plunger 19 adapted to fit closely within the housing 2 above'the supporting ring 15. The plunger is somewhat elongatedas shownand provided with a downwardly projecting shaft 20' ger and spear are held out of contact with the slldable blocks 9 by means of a heavy splral spr ng 21. When it is desired to force the .blocks outwardly from their"posi tion, shown in F s. land 4, the plunger is forced downward y so as to bring the spear -18 in sliding contact with the blocks 9. This movement of the plunger is obtained by means of a stream of water pumped downwardly under pressurev through the drill When the cutter has been forced into contact with the outer pipe the drill stem is rotated to cause the cutting disks 8 to roll around on the innerface of the casing, the force of the water exerted u on the plun-' ger will hold the cutters tight y against the .the

n the. lower end of which is the wedgehaped spear 18, previously described. The plunfrom the sliding support 12-, I have mounted a post or support 22. This support is slotted at its forward end to receive a flattened rod or lever 23, which is pivoted in said slot upon the pin 24, adjacent the lower end of said lever. The upper end of the lever 23 is pivotally lower face of the sliding block 9; The lower end of the lever 23 is bent inwardly at an push the cutter outattached within arecess 25 in the obtuse angle and beveled on the inner end,

as shown at 26, for contact with the spear 18'. The pivotal attachment of the lever 23 to the support 22 is adapted to be slidable.

To accommodate such a sliding movement,

the pivoted pin 24 is engaged in a longitu- 3 dinal slot 27 in the lever 23. Thus when the apparatus is in the'position shown in Fig. 1, lever 23 will be retained in position by its pivotal attachment to the lower side of the sliding block 9. When the block has been forced outwardly by the spear so that the pipe is severed, the spear will assume the position shown in Fig. 2 and when the spear has passed the .sliding block 9, it will contact with the beveled inner end 26 of the lever arm, and act to ferce the slidin block 9 back into the position shown in Tig. 3.

' When the lever v23 describes an are, as the block is forced inwardly, thepivot will be shoved downward slightly relative to the support 22, and the pivot pin 24 will move longitudinally in the slot 27 of the lever.

The housing 2 is perforated at 2? at al;

point-spaced below the upper end to allow the discharge of the water pumped downwardly agalnst the piston or plunger 19. When the plunger is being forced downwardly during the cutting action the pres sure will be largely confinedagainst the upper face of the plunger. The'p'erforations 28 are so-arranged, however, that when the cutting action has been completed and the spear and cuttingblocks assume the position shown in Fig. 3, the full volume of water forced downwardly against the piston will find an exit laterally through the perforations and vertically between the housing 2 and the pipe 1. This will relieve the presi sure upon the plunger and'within the pipe- A pressure gage'on thepump at the upper end of thewell will show at once, that the pressure has fallen off and this will indicate to the operator that the cutters have entirely severed. the pipe and that the cutter is now ready to be withdrawn from the well.

My cutting device is assembled by placing the operativeparts in positionv within the housing, as shown particularly in Fig.

en the parts'have been thus arranged the two sections of the housings are bolted together by means of therods 4, as described. The apparatus is then attached to the drill stem and inserted into the pipe until ,it-

reaches the point where the cutting opera- 7 tion is to be performed. In this position of the casing. The drill stem 7 is then rotated 'an (1, when the pipe has been severed, will drop past the cutting blocks against the lower end of the lever 23, acting as described to withdraw the cutters into position shown in Fig. The decreaseof pressure on the pump will then indicate that the cutters have gone entirely through the casing, and have been withdrawn within the houslng so that the apparatus may be again removed from the well preparatory to with drawing the severed length of casing.

Having thus described my invention, the further objects and advantages of which will be obvious, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In a pipe cutter, a tubular housing, a

' slidable cutter block, a rotatable cutter jour- '-.to force said cutter blocks and cutters outwardly mto contact with the casing to be naled therein, means to support said cutter block resiliently in said housin and positive means to advance and wit draw said cutter block and cutter as desired.

2. In a pipe cutter a tubular housing, a resilient support in the lower end thereof,

cutter blocks seated on sa1d support, diskshaped cutters in said blocks, a spr' .bearing against the upper faces of said locks,

and means adapted to be actuated by water' pressure to force said blocks outwardly as desired.

3 In a pipe cutter, a tubular. housing, a resillent support in the lower end thereof,

slidable cutter blocks resting on said support, resilient means above said blocks holdng the same upon said support, and means them in operative position, levers actuated by said spear to again withcut, and levers pivoted below said blocks, and actuated by said cutter advancing means to withdraw said cutter blocks and cutters.

In a pipe cutter, a tubular housing, slidable cutter blocks mounted resiliently therein, and means actuated by water pres sure to advance said cutter blocks and separate means actuated by said first mentioned means after the cutting operation is completed to withdraw said cutter blocks from said housing.

5. In a pipe cutter, a tubular housing, slidable blocks mounted therein, cutting disks said blocks, water actuated means to force said blocks and said cutters into operative position, and pivoted levers actuated by sa1d means to withdraw said blocks within the housing.

6. In a pipe cutter, a tubular housing, slidable cutter blocks mounted for resilient vertical movement therein, cutters on said blocks, a plunger above said blocks, means on said plunger to force said blocks out- 'wardly'through said housing, and a lever below said blocks actuated by sa1d means to withdraw said blocks within" the housing and means to relieve the pressure on said plunger when said blocks are withdrawn.

, In a pipe cutter, a housing, cutter blocks therein, cutters 0n said blocks,.a spear actuated bywater pressure and adapted to advance said blocks and cutters and retain and pivoted draw said blocks.

8. In a pipe cutter, a housing, cutters mounted therein, hydraulically operated means to advance said cutters, and means 00-.

operating with said hydraulic means and operable only when the cutting operation is completed .to withdraw said cutters.

9. 'In a pipe cutter; the combination of cutters, means operated by water pressure to advancesaid cutters, levers actuated by said advancing means to withdraw said outters only when the cutting operation is completed, and means to relieve said water pressure when said cutters are withdrawn.

10. In a pipe cutter, the combination of cutters, means to advance saidcutters against the work and levers connected with said out ters and actuated by said first mentioned means to withdraw said cutters onlywhen the cutting operation has been completed.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix m signature, this .23 day of April, A. D., 1919.

ROBERT E. CARMICHAEL. 

